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Texas Governor Rick Perry Sides with Irresponsible and Drunk Drivers Over Innocent Victims

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 18, 2007 Contact: Alex Winslow, 512-381-1111 LEGISLATION TO PROTECT POLICYHOLDERS VETOED BY GOVERNOR HB 3281 Passed Legislature with Overwhelming Bipartisan Support AUSTIN – Governor Rick Perry bowed to the wishes of a few special interest lobbyists and the insurance industry by vetoing HB 3281 by Rep. Phil King. “HB 3281 would have restored fairness for responsible policyholders that are injured by reckless, irresponsible, and drunk drivers,” said Alex Winslow, Executive Director of Texas Watch, a statewide consumer advocacy organization active on insurance issues. “Instead of siding with responsible policyholders, Governor Perry bowed to the wishes of insurance companies that want to pad their bottom line.” HB 3281 was designed to clarify current law. The current statute, adopted in 2003 as part of the sweeping so-called tort “reform” measure known as HB 4, is ambiguous and has been the subject of ongoing controversy. In opposing HB 3281, insurance companies are asserting that reckless drivers who cause death and injury should be allowed to unfairly benefit from a responsible policyholder’s decision to carry health insurance. Insurance companies are simply seeking to reap windfall profits by requiring innocent families to subsidize the cost of their injuries. By vetoing this legislation, Governor Perry guarantees this issue will continue to be disputed in the courts, increasing litigation expenses, padding the insurance industry’s bottom line, and making justice harder to come by for hard working Texas families. “By vetoing this legislation, the governor is sending the message that personal responsibility is not as important as insurance industry profits,” said Winslow. This legislation passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. Not a single dissenting vote was cast in the House of Representatives (139-0; RV 1140, 5/9/07) and just two Senators registered opposition (28-2; SJ 2238, 5/17/07).

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